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Land & Food Systems

LFS (Land & Food Systems) Co-op students focusing on food-related studies have the opportunity to experience food chemistry and other lab-related environments in a diverse set of organizations that will prepare them to enter the many various facets of food science after graduation. And, if food isn’t your thing, LFS students also have access to a world of other opportunities in LFS Co-op, including clinical research, government, field, academia, plant and soil research, wet lab, health research, among many more! An education from UBC LFS is a great foundation, and you can complement that education with the Co-op experience, enabling you to pursue a rewarding career, either in industry or academia, after graduation.

Application Deadlines

We’ll run you through the application requirements, and then you’ll be prompted to create an account in SCOPE, the UBC Science Co-op Information System.

Application Requirements

Have a minimum average of around B- (68%)

Be a full-time UBC (Vancouver) student in good academic standing in mathematics, English and the sciences

Demonstrate good communication skills, and a responsible, mature attitude

Demonstrate leadership, teamwork and time management

Demonstrate interest in your chosen field

Be flexible and willing to accept a work placement outside the Lower Mainland

Work-Term Schedules

Year

Fall

Winter

Summer

1

Study Term 1

Study Term 2

-

2

Study Term 3

Study Term 4

-

3

Study Term 5

Study Term 6

Work Term 1

4

Work Term 2

Work Term 3

Work Term 4

5

Study Term 7

Study Term 8

-

The above schedule is highly recommended by the Co-op Program in order for students to complete their program within the shortest time frame. Alternate scheduling is available in consultation with your Co-op Coordinator.

Sample Jobs and Companies

Natural Factors

QC Lab Analyst
The Co-op Student will be an active member of the QC team involved in the day-to-day duties to gain valuable hands-on work experience in a busy lab environment. They will take into consideration the company’s commitment to sustainability (people, planet, and profit) in the planning and implementation of all actions related to the area of responsibility.
Responsibilities include natural health product GMP sample preparation and testing according to USP or house methods, testing physical, raw material and finished product testing, and involves the use of instrumental chemical methods such as HPLC, ICP, Spectrophotometers, Dissolution and other instruments, and validating analytical methods and support validation projects as required

Child & Family Research Institute

Diabetes Research Assistant
The Diabetes Research Assistant will participate in a variety of childhood diabetes research projects related to quality improvement, public health, health promotion, and disease prevention in the Endocrinology Diabetes Unit at the BC Children's Hospital. Most of the research projects are related to childhood diabetes. The student will assist with developing applications for ethics and data access, data collection from patients and physicians, data entry, and recruitment of study subjects.
Responsibilities include search of background literature, subject screening, recruitment and follow-up, data collection, monitoring and management, data analysis and interpretation, preparation of abstracts, presentations, ethics applications, and funding applications.